Jim Bowen tops British quiz show host poll

Melling’s most famous resident has been voted the UK’s favourite TV quiz show host.

Jim Bowen topped a poll run by leading British quiz website Quiz Britain.

The Bullseye front man whose famous catchphrase was “super smashing great” smashed the competition with 26% of the vote.

Jim, 78, will now be presented with an award by Quiz Britain later this week at his home in Melling village near Lancaster.

Victoria Coren Mitchell, host of BBC quiz Only Connect, came second with The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh in third place.

Former stand up comedian Bowen hosted the popular TV darts quiz Bullseye from 1981 to 1995.

The show saw teams of two answer general knowledge questions and throw darts in an attempt to win prizes.

It made a household name out of former Comedians star and ex-school teacher Jim, and his stream of catchphrases including “Keep out of the black and in the red, you get nothing in this game for two in a bed”, “look at what you could have won” and “You can’t beat a bit of Bully”.

Bullseye also starred many of the top darts players of the day including Eric Bristow and John Lowe who competed for the Bronze Bully Trophy.

The programme is regularly repeated today on Challenge TV. It was also briefly revived in 2006 with a new series hosted by comedian Dave Spikey.

Bullseye came top of Quiz Britain’s 2014 poll to find the UK’s most loved game show.

Jim has recovered from two strokes in 2011 and still gives talks at the Melling Institute near his home.

He is a former president of Morecambe Football Club and has performed many times in Lancaster and Morecambe over the years.